Railway signaling system.



IL'C. BENNBU'KE. RAILWAY SIGNALIHG SYSTEM. APPLIOATION FILED HAY 1a,1909.

994,814. 1 Patented. June 13, 1911.

UNITEDISTA (PATIENT, or fice;

HENRY Q'BENNEQKE, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

-To all whom it may concern:

.Be it known that L'HEXRY BENNEGKE, I

a-citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, county ofCook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new andvusefullmprm'ements in Railway Signaling Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

The invention relates to signaling systems for railways and moreparticularly for elec .trically operatedrailways, and seeks to provide asimple and elieetive system by which trated in the accompanying drawing,and

more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of the improved system, the equipmentfor two separate cars or trains heing represented. Fig. 2 is adiagrammatic section of the railway line.

As stated, the inrention is particularly applicable for use inconnection with electrically operated railways. 'll1e tracks 10 formcontinuous main conductors for one side, usually the negative side,of'the opcrating circuit fonthe car-motors. A'trolley rail or wire 11forms a continuous conductoiyfor the opposite or positive side of thepower circuit; The conductor for the positive side of the power circuitshown in Fig. 2,'is in the form of an insulated'third rail-11 arrangedin usual manner'at one side of the track; provided with a suitabletrolley or shoe 12' which is connected by aconduc'tor 13,

- circuit breaking switch 14 and a conductor 15 to one pole of the"motor 16'which is arranged in any. suitable or usual manner 'to propelthe car. The opposite side or pole of the motor 16 is connected to the-1 racks or negative conductors for the power eifiuit by a conductor 17,wheel axle '18 and car wheels 19 that runon the track. The

motor circuit is provided with any suitable form of controlling switch(not shown).

In acco dance with the present invention Each car 'or train is RAILWAYSIG NALING SYSTEM.

Specification-o1 Letters Patent. Patented urie 13, 1911. Applicationfiled May 13,1909, Serial in. 495,679; I v

a pair of supplemental, orfsignaling conduetors 20 and 21extend alongthe railway' line, These conductors are insulated and ma be of anysuitable construction, In the or'm illustrated in Fig. 2, theseconductors comprise supplemental rails arranged between the main rails10 and are mounted on plates 22 fixed .to the ties or, other'fouiidationstructure. plates 22 by wooden supports or rialils; 23; These woodeninsulating supports 'iire pro vided with projecting side flanges 24;having inclined outer 'faces and. repesse'd lfower faces, as shown inFig. 2, to; preventthe short, circuiting of thesupplempntalfrails 0conductors 20 and 21 by-moisture,

The supplemental 'zeoncluctors 20 .;'and 21 are divided into sections orblocks is ind1- cated in Fig. 1, and'each section of the conductor E20isconnected, to the section, of the conductor 21 in the nei\ t adjacentblocks by cross conductors 25. at all dangerpoints along the railwayline, such asiswitches,

crossings and the like, a normally open switch. is interposed betweenthe supple' e 1s. Ir-- rangcd to be shifted to closed position when theline at that'point is not cleaifiln Fig.

mental conductors 20 and 21:v and 1 the railslt) of a side track areindicated and theswitch rails 26 are shtiwnjm line with the rails 10 ot'the side traclggso that the main line is not clear'at this point.

semaphore signal 27 at this point is ranged to shift a normallyopenjswitcli Q. lhis switch and its contact- 2! are connected byconductors 30 to the signaling 'conducQ tors or rails 20 and 21. Theswitch rails 26 are also arranged to operate a normally open switch 31by means of-a sirtable-connectio'n 32, and this switch at its'contaoc33is connected by conductors 31 and 30 to the signaling railsor conductorsand 21 I Besides the main traveling contacts 12 and 19 which engage themain conductors 11 and 10 of thepower circuit, eacligcar or train isprovided with a pair'of supplemem tal traveling contacts 34 and 35whiohiar'e in the forinof suitable brushes or sh es-and 'which aresuitably supported from he car? body 36 in position to engage tlsupple-j mental conductors or rails 20 and The signaling and safetyequipine'nt, of each car or train comprises a n el'ectric bell 37,2111incandescent lamp 38-ai1 fl an eleetromagnet 39. The operating circuitfor these parts, in the preferred arrangement, de-

The rails are insulated fromlhe drives current from the motor circuitand;

comprises a pair of branch conductors on each car connected respectivelyto the two main contacts of the car and connected to the twosupplemental contacts of the car by a second air lam and magnet arearranged in multiple blades 48 and in t e signaling circuit. One pole ofeach of these parts is connected to the negative conductor'17,of the'motor eircuit by the conductors 40, 41 and 42. The other holes of thebell, lamp and magnet are connected by the conductors 43, 44 and 4,5 toa conductor 46 that is connected to two dia onally opposite poles 47 and47' of a doub e pole, 'double throw, pole-changing switch. The.

49 of thisswitch are connected by conductors 50 and 51- to thesupplemental contacts or brushes 34 and which'engage the signalinconductors or rails 20 and 21. The two iagonally. opposite poles 52 and52 of the switch are connected by conductors 53 and 54 to the positiveconductor 13 of the motor circuit.

The. conductors 42 and 53 are arranged in the manner usually employed toform an electric lighting circuit by which the car or train is i1uminated. As shown, a series of incandescent lamps 55 are interposedbetween the conductors 42 and 53 and a resistthe poles 47 and and 52, inaccordance with the direction ance 56, inter osed in the conductor 53,properly cuts own the \amount of current supplied to the supplementallighting or' s gnahng circuit. The present improved signalingequipment-for a car or train is thus adapted to be connected direct tothe electric lighting circuit now in common use.

A resistance 57 is preferably interposed in the conductor 43 leading tothe bell 37, since less current is required to operate the bell than tooperate the lamp 38 or the magnet 39. The elcctromagnet 39 is preferablyin the form of a solenoid and its core 58 is connected by a link 59 to apivoted lever 60. This lever is connected by a link 61 to the circuitopening switch 14 and to an armfil which operates the controlling valve63 0f the air-brake system on the car or train.

in the diagram Fig. 1, the blocks formed by the rail .wtions 20 and 21are numbered 1, 2, 3 an"! "t. The equipment for two cars or trains A andP are represented as running on the same track formed by the rails 10.The blades of the pole changing switch of each equipment are engagedeither with 52 or with the poles 47 in which the car or train is movin".If it be assumed that the cars or trains A and B are moving. in thedirection indicated by the arrows, the pole changing switch on each carwill be in engagement with the poles 47 and 52, as shown. Asrepresented, the car or train A is in block No. 2 and car the brush 35and rail 21 of block the power is cut off car A, through resistance56,"conductors 53 and 54 to the terminal 52 of the switchpv thence bySwitch blade 49, conductor 51 to No. 2 thence by the cross connection 25to the con ductor 20 of block No. 3. If the next following train is inblock No. 4 the circuit will be broken at the gap between the rails 20of blocks Nos. 3 and 4, but if the car or train is in block No. 3, asshown, the circuit I will be completed as follows :-from rail 20 tobrush 34 and conductor 50 of car B to the switch blade 48 and terminal47 and by conductors 46, 43, 44 and 45 to the bell 37,

lamp 38 and magnet 39, and from these parts by the conductors 40, 41, 42and 17 to the wheel axle 18, wheels 19 and tracks 10 which form thenegative conductor of the power circuit. The completion of this circuitwill thus by the audible and visual signals 37 and the engineer ormotorman o the car or train B. At the same time the solenoid 39 in. caror train B will be energized and the switch 14 shifted to open position,so. that the car. The brake lever. .62 will also be shiftedautomatically to apply the brakes to the car or train. As soonas the caror train A advances into block No. 1- the sig- 38 indicate dan 'er aheadto from the motor 16 of naling circuit will be broken at the gap between the rail sections 20'of blocks Nos. 2 and 3 and the circuit throuh the bell 37, lamp 38 and magnet 39 of car'or train B will be openedand the engineer or motorman of this car that he nay safely proceed. Ifthe trains A and B were traveling in the. direction the reverse ofthatindicated by the arrows and occupied -similar positions the bell,lamp and magnet of train A would be operate in a similar manner. Thesignaling and safety devices in any car or train are thus operatedwhenever there is another car or train in the next'adjacent block ahead,but

the signaling-and safety devices in the lead-- 1 15 mg car or train arenot affected.

As stated, normally open switches, such as the switches 28 and 31, arearranged at danger points along the line and are closed when the line isnot clear. are interposed between the block conductors 20 and 21. If anycar or train enters a. block in which. one of these switches is closedthe signaling and safety devices thereof are operated. For example, inthe diagram car A is represented as being in the same block with theswitches 28 and 31 which are in their closed or danger positions. Undersuch circumstances current willflow as follows:

or train will be notified 105 These switches 120 fromthe positive jpower condiictor Il -1 :throulilthe trolley 12:

.and conductor- 13 of car A- andg as-.-before,-

through the and .54,'switeh terminal 52, switch blade 19, zconductorFit-and brush 35 to. the rail 21,

resistance 56, conductors 53 thence by the conductors-wand 34 to one orboth of the switches 28 and 3]. to the con- 1 ductor rail 20, thence bythebrush 34, con

doctor 50, switch blade 48,-conductors 46,

:43, 44 a'nd 45, th-rough the bell 37, lamp 38 and magnet 39. andthence,--as before,

through conductors 40,41, 42 and 17 to the traveling contactwheel l9'andthe I negawith ma in tive power conductor or track 10. The power circuitto the motor 16 of car A- will then be opened by. the circuit breakingswitch 14, the brake-controlling valve 63 will be operated,- and thesignals 37 and 38 indicating danger'ahcad to the motor-man or engineerof car or train A; These signals will remain at danger-until theline is'clear and the switches 28'and 31 restored to their-normal open position,

\Vhile the preferred arrangement 'is 'set forth and illustrated it willbe understood that the detailscan be varied without-(le- 'parture fromthe essentials of the invention as defined in the claims.

I claim as my invention 1. In electric railways, tlie-combination powerconductors. of supplel mental line conductors divided into blocks withonecondnctor of each block connected to the opposite comlnctoi" of adifferent 35.

block; and a car equipmentcomprising a motor tor propelling the car, anopt-rating ."circnit therefor connected to saidl main "powert-o'mluctm-s, and two pairs of branch conductors on the car electricallyconnected respectively to said main power conductors .and said sup'ilcmental conductors. a pole- ('han;'1n; switch for connecting saidpairs of branch -om.tnctors, and -a signal interposed in one of saidbranch conductors, sub-.

stantially as described,

2. in electricrailways, the combination with main power conductors andsupple uu-ntal line conductors,,said supplemental .line comluctors beingdivided into blocks scribed.

*uauowqmn, double throw, pole-cln'inging switch connecting said pairs ofbranch conductors, and a signal jinterpo s'edj'in 'onc-of saidln'am-hconductors, substantially as de- 3.111 railways, the combination withmain power conductors and parallel supple mental-conductors extendingalong the railway line :said'sapplcmentnl conductors bc m'g-di'vi edinto blocks withonc conductor ofeachgblockxcon'nected to theopposite-con:

doctor 0t the'next adjacent block. of a car eqnlpment 'comprising' mainand supple-' mental travelingIcontacts respectively en gagingsai'dqmain-and supplemental conductors, two pairs of branch conductorson the car connected, one-pair. tosaid main contacts and the other pairto said supplemental c0ntacts,'a double pole, double throw, polechangingswitch connecting'said pairs of branch conductors, and a'slgnalinterposed in one of said branch conductors, substantially as described.i V 4. In. railways,- the I -combination with main power conductors andparallel supplev mental conductors extendingalong the-rail way .line,said supplemental conductors be.-

ing dividcd into blocks with one conductor of each block connected tothe'opposite con- (.luctor of the next adjacent block, of a carequipment comprising ni'ain mental traveling contacts respectively en-'gaging said main and supplemental-conductors, two pairs -of branchconductors on the car connected, onepair to said main con-' tacts andthe other pair to said supplemental contacts, a pole-changing switchconnecting said pairs of branch conductors, an; elcctromagnet interposedn one of studbranch conductors, and a brake controlling device operatedby said magnet, substantially as described;

and supple-- with main-power;conductors and' parallel supplemental.conductors extending. along the railwaydine, said supplementalconductors being divided into blocks withl'one-condoctor of each blockconnected to an-opposite condnctor'of'a difi'erent block zof a carequipment comprisinga motor foi pro.- poll ng the car, an operating.c1rcm'tjtherefor interposed between said'maiirconductors, two pairsof'branch conductors on the car electrically connected respectively onepair to said mainiconductors and the other pair to saidsupplemental,conductors, a pole changing'swltct for connecting 'saidpairs of branch conductors, an electromagnet: in-: terposed-inone ofsand branch conductors,

and a circuit breaking switch for said motor w it controlled by said magnet, suhstan circa tially as described. p

(5. In anelectric ra1lway, the" combina-' tion with main powerconductors. aiul parallel supplemental conductors, extending along therailway line, said supplemental conductors being divided intoblockswithone conductor of each'bloek connected to the -oppositeconductor of the 1mm adjacent block, of a car equipment compris ngmainand supplemental travelingcontacts engagmg said ma n andsupplemental conductors,

r 100 In an electric railway, the combination t tacts and the other amotor for propelling the car, an operating circuit therefor connected tosaid main contact's, two pairs of branch conductors on the car, one pairconnected to said main conpair to said supplemental contacts, a doublepole, double throw, polechanging switch connecting said pairs of branchconductors, a signal interposed in one of said branch conductors, amagnet interposed in one of said branch conductors,

and a circuit breaking switch for said motor circuit controlled by saidmagnet, substantially as described.

7.'In an electric railway, the combination with main power conductorsand pan allel supplemental conductors extending along the railway line,said supplementa conductors being divided into blocks with one,conductor of each block connected to the opposite conductor of the nextadjacent block, of a car equipment comprising main and supplementaltraveling contacts engaging said main and supplemental conductors, amotor for propelling the car, an operating circuit there or connected tosaid main contacts, two pairs of branch conductors on the car, one pairconnected to said main con: tacts and the other pair to saidsupplemental contacts, a double pole, double throw, pole-changing switchconnecting said pairs of branch conductors, a magnet interposed in oneof said branch conductors, and a brake controlling device and a circuitbreaking switch for said motor circuit operated by said magnet,substantially as described.

8. In a railway, the combination with main power conductors and parallelsupplemental conductors extendin along the railway line, saidsupplementa conductors being divided into blocks with one conductorofeach block connected to the opposite conswitches at danger pointsinterposed between said supplemental conductors and arran ed to beshifted to closed position when the-lineis not clear," and a carequipment comprising main and supplemental traveling contacts arrangedto engage said main and supple mental conductors respectively, two pairsof branch conductors on the car,

one pair connected to said main contacts and the other pair to saidsupplemental contacts, a pole-' changing switch for connecting said airsof branch conductors,

interposed in one of said branch conductors,

substantially as described.

9. In a railway, the combination with ma in power conductors andparallel .sup lemental conductors extending along the railivay line,said supplemental conductors being divided into blocks with oneconductor of each block connected to the opposite conductor of adifferent block, of norm'ally'open switches at danger points interpdscdbetween said sup plemental conductors and arranged to be and an electricsignal-- shifted to closed changing switch for connecting said pairs ofbranch conductors, a signal and a magnet interposed in one and a brakecontrollin device operated by said magnet, substantia 1y as described.

10. with a track and a main trolley conductor, of a pair of supplementalconductors extending along the railway line and divided into blocks withone conductor of each block connected to an opposite conductor of adifferent block, of a car equipment comprising a trolley en aging saidtrolley conductor, a pair of brus es engaging said supplementalconductors, a. motor for propelling the car, an operating circuittherefor connectedto said trolley and to the car wheels, two pairs ofbranch conductors on the car, one pair connected to the opposite sidesof said motor operating circuit and the other pair to said brushes, adouble pole, double throw, pole-changing switch for connecting saidpairs of branch conductors, and a signal interposed in one of saidbranch conductors, substantially as described.

11. In an electric railway, thecombinationwith main conductors andparallel supplemental conductors extending along the railway line, saidsupplemental conductors being divided into blocks with one conductor oneach block connected to an opposite conductor of a different block, ofnormally etwecn said supplement-a conductors and arranged to be shiftedto closed position when the line is not clear, and a car equipmentcomprising main and supplemental switch for said trolled by'saidscribed. 12. In an electric railway, the combination with a track andductor,of a pair of supplemental conductor rails extending along therailway line and divid dinto block's, one rail of each block magnet,substantially as debeing connected to the opposite rail of the pair tosaid supplemental contacts, a polo of said branch conductors,

In an electric railway, the combination traygling contacts arranged toengage said pair connected tosaid main and suppleopen switches at dangeroints interposed ductor of a dlfi'erent block, of normally open, b F

branch conductors, and a circuit breaking L motor operating circuit cona main trolley coni.

next adjacent block, of normally open switches at danger pointsinterposed between said supplemental conductors arranged to be shiftedto closed position when the line is not clear, and a car equipmentcomprising a trolley engaging said trolley conductor, a pair of brushesengaging said supplemental rails, a motor for propelling the car, anoperating circuit therefor connected to said trolley and to the carwheel, two pairs of branch conductors on the car, one pair connected tothe opposite sides of said motor operating circuit and the other paircon nected to said brushes, a double pole, double throw, pole-changingswitch connecting sa id pairs of branch conductors, a signal interposedin one of said branch conductors, a magnet interposed in one of saidbranch conductors, and a circuit breaking switch for said motoroperating circuit controlled by said magnet, substantially as described.

13. In an electric railway, the combination with a track and a maintrolley conductor, of a pair of supplemental conductor rails extendingalong the railway line and divided into blocks with one rail on eachblock connected to an opposite rail of a different block, of a carequipment comprising a trolley engaging said trolley conduc tor, a pairof brushes engaging said supp1emental rails, a motor for propelling thecar, an operating circuit therefor connected to said trolley and to thecar wheel, a pair of branch conductors on the car connected to theopposite sides of said motor operating circuit and forming an electriclighting circuit, an electric signal interposed in one of' said branchconductors, a second pair of branch conductors onthe car connpcted tosaid. brushes, and a double pole, double throw, pole-changing switchconnecting said pairs of branch conductors, substantially as described.

1 In a railway, the combination ofa pair of conductors divided into blcks and a continuous conductor extending long the railway line, one ofthe divided conductors of each block being connected to the oppositeconductor of a difi ercnt block, of a car equipment comprising travelingcontacts engaging said continuous conductor and said divided conductors,an electric motor for propelling the car, an operating circuit for saidmotor connected on one side to said continuous conductor contact, twopairs of branch conductors on the car, one pair connected to theopposite sides of said motor operating circuit andthe other pair to saiddivided conductor contacts, a pole-changing switch for connecting saidpairs of branch conductors and a signal interposed in one of said branchconductors, substantially as described.

15. In a railway, the combination with the track, of a pair of parallelconductors extending along the railway line and dirided into blocks withone conductor of each block connected to anepposite'coiniuctor of adifferent block, of a car equipment comprising a pair of brushesengaging divided conductors, an electric motor for propellingthe car, anoperating circuit for said motor connected on one side to the carwheels, two pairs of branch conductors on the car, one pair connected tothe opposite sides of said motor operating circuit and the other pairto.

said brushes, a double pole, double throw,

polechanging switch for connecting said pairs of branch conductors, anelectromagnct in one of said branch conductors, and a safety devicecontrolled by said electromagnet, substantially described.

16. In a railway, the. combination of a pair of parallel conductorsdivided into blocks and a continuous conductor extending along therailwayline, one of the divided conductors of each block being connectedto the opposite conductor of a ditl'erent block,

normally open switches at danger points in- Y terposcd between saiddivided conductors and arranged to be shifted to closed position whenthe line is not clear, and a car equipment comprising travelingcontact-s engaging said continuous and said divided conductors, anelectric motor for propelling the car, an operating circuit connected onone side to said continuous conductor con-- tact, two pairs of branchconductors on the car, one. pair connected to the opposite sides of saidmotor operating circuit and the other pair to said divided conductorcontacts, a poles-hanging switch for connecting said pairs of branchconductors, a magnet interposed in one of said branch conductors and asafety device controlled by said magnet, substantially as described. I aHENRY G .BENNECKE. Witnesses:

HARRY L. CLAPP, CLARA A. NORTON.

